INFORMS Open Forum

Dear Analytics Conference Attendees,

The INFORMS Forum for Women in OR/MS (WORMS) awards Childcare Travel Funds to partially reimburse recipients for up to $500 in costs associated with care for children, age 12 years or younger, traveling with a parent, who is attending the 2017 INFORMS conference on Business Analytics and Operations Research.

Eligibility criteria
Recipients must be registered to attend the 2017 INFORMS conference on Business Analytics and Operations Research.
Up to $500 in expenses will be reimbursed upon submittal of receipts to INFORMS staff to cover travel costs such as transportation, accommodation or meals for the child or for the child’s caregiver, or payment of childcare services or suitable day-camp program in the conference environs.
At most one grant will be awarded per family, and priority will be given to those who have never received the award in prior years. Childcare must be arranged by the parents. 
INFORMS and WORMS are not responsible for identifying caregivers and are not liable for any damages.
Preference will be given to current students, post-doctoral associates or early career professionals (e.g. junior faculty or professionals in their first five years of post-graduate employment) who are the parent or guardian of a child age 12 years or younger, who is also traveling to the conference.

WORMS Childcare Travel Fund Application Process
Applicants should email Michael Rosenberg (mrosenberg@informs.org) and Sarah Nurre (snurre@uark.edu) with the following information by March 18, 2017:   
1. Subject line should be 2017 WORMS Childcare Travel Fund  
2.  A written statement of need (not to exceed 200 words) that describes:     
*   Why attendance at this conference is important to you.    
*   Why you are in need of childcare     
*   Why you are requesting for travel support     
*   What childcare do you plan to arrange     
*   Estimates for childcare expenses, including travel costs for child and/or caregiver.

The President, President-Elect and Past-President of WORMS will appoint a selection committee from amongst the officers of WORMS.  The selection committee will assess the applications based on their stated need for travel support. Recipients will be notified by the selection committee no later than March 25, 2017.  Recipients should submit all receipts for reimbursement to Michael Rosenberg (mrosenberg@informs.org) no later than 30 days following conclusion of the conference. 

If you are a parent traveling with your child/children to the conference this year, we encourage you to apply for the award.

Thanks,